Smell The Truth's Top 11 Strains of 2014

Medical patients and cannabis aficionados alike were treated to literally history’s best cultivars of cannabis this year in America. Legalization in four states, medical marijuana in 23 and a receding tide of prohibition are allowing American farmers to do what they do best: grow the world’s best agriculture. Hands down. No competition.

Often grown indoors under high-powered lamps and fed CO2 and nutrients, contemporary cannabis is hand-tended and descended from decades-long, global inter-breeding programs. It’s the psychedelic terminus of the Colombian Exchange started 522 years ago. Here’s a look at some of the best of what we’ve seen out there in the wild.

Cookies Kush

Barney’s Farm’s 1st place Amsterdam Cannabis Cup winner is the fated cross of Girl Scout Cookies and Rolex Kush. A 100% indica, known for a heavy stone. Stateside — Cookies & Cream from Exotic Genetix in Seattle took the U.S. Cannabis Cup in Denver in April. Cookies & Cream is Mystery Cookies x Starfighter and is reportedly 26% THC, the main active ingredient in cannabis.

Bubblegum Cookies

The Girl Scout Cookies craze started in San Francisco continues this year with a myriad of iterations. Bubblegum Cookies smells so much like Bazooka Joe it was almost suspicious.

KK (Khalifa Kush)

Come on, it’s Wiz Khalifa’s branded strain. Het gets an endless supply of it and vouchsafes its stone. Indeed, the primo cut of OG Kush will KO most folks.

Super Lemon Diesel

Decades after Chemdawg begat OG Kush and Sour Diesel, the line remains strong. Selective breeding continues to amp up the lemon and fuel notes in this cultivar. Senior relative Tahoe Chem took first place in San Francisco Patients Choice in 2014.

L.A. Confidential

As Los Angeles moves to regulate its dispensaries, L.A. Con continued to rep the region. DNA Genetics’ veganic-grown cut of the gnarly indica took 2nd place in the Los Angeles Medical Cannabis Cup 2014.

Azure Haze

Legendary creator of Blueberry, DJ Short, launched new company Old World Genetics this year. His son JD’s cut of Blue Dream dubbed Azure Haze is exquisite. From a Blueberry male and Silver Haze female cut from the Bay Area, sativa-dominant and one generation closer to the Blueberry landrace.

Moon Rocks

Death Row Records’ Kurupt moved into the infused flower space with a line of hash-dipped, kief rolled buds called Moon Rocks. Shameless bud marketing hits new heights with the correspondingmixtape release.

Pink Panther

Away from the glitz and glamour of cups and rap videos, Bay Area dispensaries proffered some next-level, small-batch outdoor, like this unique, gorgeous Pink Panther spotted in the South Bay. The cross of TNT and High Level reset the bar for sungrown with next-level sweet, syrupy, floral aroma and a mega-berry taste.

Black Lime Reserve

The best buds often don’t post the highest THC scores. It’s the entourage of secondary cannabinoids and terpenes that set the best apart. Aficionado Seeds defends their name with this award-winning cross of Oil Can, Northern Lights, Lime Afgani, PK, and Chemdawg SR. Plenty strong at 17 percent THC, Emerald Cup judges were enthralled by its “lemon lime funk”, and “nose bleed stink”, calling it “terp city” saying that it hit in waves.

Night Owl

High-CBD genetics broke all previous records in 2014, with CBD levels going from negligible to numbers once reserved for the strongest high-THC flowers. Night Owl was developed by Full Spectrum Seeds and the 65 percent sativa has a CBD:THC ratio of anywhere from 12:1 to 25:1 in almost every plant — the result of extensive experimentation, hybridizing and inbreeding. Usually 10-20% CBD with 1 percent THC. Tastes good too.

The One You Bought Legally

January 1, 2014 saw the first-ever day of recreational cannabis sales in America. Since then, hundreds of thousands of global citizens have partook of the Rocky Mountain State’s freedoms. No matter what the strain, the effects of buying a legal sack are felt immediate: a sense of wonder at the civil transaction and warmth that you can no longer be harassed over a simple bag of grass.